Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-10-21
| l think we had better allow him to

not 60 until we are"
"But are we to take the risk Of
offending the Russians by interior
ing with one of their dispatch bear
ers ~
The guerrillas agreed that they
did not dare to act in opposition to
the Gar, at the same time they
were not yet convinced of the ma
tiOnality of the man; they suspect
ed he might be q French spy, in
spite of appearances. Accordingly
he was conducted to vault be
meath the chapel, aud locked in.
| A hard ride of many hours over
rough reads, added to the agony Of
mind which no had endured during
his examination had so exhausted
poor Lackinsky, that he sank upon
q heap of straw IN one corner OF
his prison, and was soon sound
asleep.
Two hours elapsed, when the
door was softly opened, and some
one entered. A gentle tap on the
shoulder reused the young lieuten.
ant, and IA wOman's gentle voice
whispered "VOulez.rouS SOuper,
Monsieur"
Heavy with sleep, the prisoner
fancied himself, for a moment, with
his mess at Madrid. The fearful
ordeal lasted only single moment,
for, looking up aud rubbing his
eyes, Lackinsky's position was re-
called 70 him by the darkness of
his cell, which served the double
purpose of cOncealing his doubt
and surprise. His presence of
mind did not desert him even then,
and he inquired, in German, what
was wanted of him. Without an.
other word, the woman disappeared.
When reporting this test to his
comrades, Castanos added, with a
coarse laugh: "You see, l was right
in believing him to be a Russian,
for were he French he would surely
have betrayed himself to a woman.
Give him something to eat, saddle
his horse, and send him on his
way"
Unfortunately for the prisoner,
the generals authority over his
volunteer corps was not absolute ;
his order was therefore obeyed on
ly in part. Supper was served,
but Lackinsky remained in his cell.
The following morning CastanOs,
who had his own reasons for wish
ing to be favorably reported to the
Russian government, visited his
prisoner and told him not be dis.
couraged, adding an assurance that
his detention would soon end. At
the same time, taking the youth
kindly by the hand, he assured
him, with a smile, that there was
nothing further to fear.
Though inwardly rejoicing, as be
listened to the encouraging words,
Lackinsky appeared to comprehend
nothing bat the gentle tone and the
friendly pressure of the hand.
Later, he was led to spot where
ten French prisoners of war had
just been shot. There, in the pres.
ence of the CHASTITY, bleeding
corpses, he was forced to remain
until night. Prison was a relief
compared with such a cruel specta-
Gle, yet, in spite of the generals re-
assuring remarks, he could not OBJ
tain the repOse of which he was by
this time sorely in need. The fate
of his companions in arms, which
he fully expected to share, haunted
him continually, until sleep over
came him after several hours of
weary watching and tossing on his
hard bed of straw.
AS before, a woman gently
aroused him and spoke in the same
low tone in French "Come quick.
ly; l will save you; your horse is
saddled; everything is ready; fol-
low me softly, softly"
The young lieutenant's senses
were Immediately on the alert his
suspicion was fully aroused and he
was not 10 be taken unawares.-
"What is it you said ~ he quietly
asked in German. 81 did not IN.
derstandJ can you not speak to me
10 my native tongue 2" The woman
Immediately vanished.
On hearing of this incident,
Castanos again spoke in behalf
of his prisoner, but the asser.
ton made so confidently by
the peasant had worked upon the
minds of the guerrillas to such a
degree that they refused to be con-
WINGED until they had made one
more trial. 1t was therefore agreed
that Lackinsky should remain in
captivity another night.
Five guerrillas entered the vault
on the following morning, utterlng
furious threats against the French,
accompanied By maledictions on
the head OF Napoleon. They spoke
IN Spanish, of which Lackinsky un.
derstOOd quite enough oknow what
they we're saying, bat he assumed
an air of unconcerD and looked
from one to another as though won
dering what could be the cause of
their excitement. After being in-
formed that he was to have another
trial he was led to the chapel